Snap-in rack for cassettes

ABSTRACT

A horizontal or vertical stack for cassettes having a plurality of snap-in panels including male and female elements, the snap-in feature permitting forming a complete holder of indeterminate length and in which the individual units can be joined together and used in vertical or horizontal position.

O mted States Patent 1151 3,635,350 Wolf 1 51 Jan. 18, 1972 [54] SNAP-IN RACK FOR CASSETTES 1,030,317 6/1912 Middaugh ..211 10 1,764,754 6/1930 Scott [72] Inventor: Bern E. Wolf, 4070 Laurel Canyon Blvd., 3,308,960 3,1967 samon (319331491604 3,442,394 5/1969 McCune 2 Filed; Oct 14 1970 3,479,105 1 H1969 Farren 3,502,222 3/1970 Crafoord ..21 1/40 [21] Appl. No.: 80,561

Primary Examiner-Nile C. Byers, Jr. 52 11.s.c1 ..211/40 Semmes [51 1 e ..A47g [58] held of Search ..211/40, 10, 177, 50,44

A horizontal or vertical stack for cassettes having a plurality of [56] References Cited snap-in panels including male and female elements, the snapin feature permitting forming a complete holder of indeter- UNITED STATES PATENTS minate length and in which the individual units can be joined 1 together and used in vertical or horizontal position. 638,785 12/1899 Wh1tt1esey ..211/40 X 8 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures 833,110 10/1906 Bakken ..248/154 PATENTED JAM 8 1972 SHEET 1 0F 4 BERN WOLF PATENTEBJANWBTZ 3,635,350

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jn 25 H F/GiZ 96 I ,7 2. L l I i I J INVENTOEII BERN WOLF n he? Mm ATTORNEY 1 SNAP-IN RACK Fort CASSEI'IES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION While heretofore racks or stacks of compartments have been devised utilizing snap-in increments there has not been developed a completely satisfactory horizontal or vertical stack for cassettes whereby the rack can be built to any desired height by utilizing a plurality of panels desirably interconnectable by means of male and female elements. The present invention satisfies the need for such cassette racks and the like in a completely satisfactory manner;

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention a snap-in rack for cassettes is provided which can be utilized for horizontal or vertical stacks for cassettes and which includes a plurality of snapin panels having both male and female elements. The snap-in feature enables building to any desired height or length. The individual parts or units can be snapped together or interlocked in' any fashion to form a completeholder of indeterminate desired length and the unit will join together for use in vertical or horizontal positions. The unique snap-in construction provides a cassette holder having an expandable feature which fulfills a growing need for cassette buyers in a manner not heretofore available.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a snap-in rack for cassettes in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of an individual snap-in unit;

FIG. 3 is an exploded partially assembled view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a single unit;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the unit of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of individual units with modified interlocking means and shown in a vertical stack arrangement;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 of a further modified constructional form;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIGS. 6 and 7 of a further modified constructional form;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on line 1 1--l1 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a side view of a further modified form of the invention.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. l5 inclusive, a cassette stack or array generally indicated at includes a plurality of individual cassette holding units 22, each adapted for holding a single cassette, not shown. Each unit is in the form of an open end box having an open cored out area in the base as at 24 and a top tapered side open area at 26 to facilitate insertion of cassettes and removal thereof. End compartments 28 are formed by means of projecting strips 30 and end openings are provided at 32 in the nature of slots. End panels 34 and 36 are capable of being mounted at extreme opposite ends of an assembled stack and serve as bases when standing on end as shown for example in FIG. I. The stack or array can be either horizontally or vertically positioned and theend panels are so dimensioned, as will be apparent from the drawings, to serve as a base for the assembled unit. Each of the units 22 are provided with, preferably, a plurality of alternate wells or openings 38 and snap-in type buttons 40, the wells and buttons being dimensioned and shaped for mating coacting relationship as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. When assembling one unit with respect to the other they are moved as indicated by arrow 42 (FIG. 3) and the respective buttons 40 will pass into respective mating wells or openings 38 in a snap-in action and thereafter hold the individual units in assembled relationship. In the embodiment shown the end panels 36 and 34 are provided with similar buttons 44 and openings 46 for snap-in type assembly as indicated by arrows 48.

The individual units are preferably molded of a plastic material such as polypropolene and being a resilient material facilitate assembly of a stack from the individual units. The material used, which can be different, provides for molded prefabrication in an economical and facile manner. Any number of the individual units can be assembled, as desired, and the end units then joined to end panels as desired, the end panels serving for either vertically or horizontally placing the stacked array.

FIGS. 6 and 8 show a modified form wherein the individual units 50 include closed faces 52 with tapered opening 54 and the opposite end being open. Side members 56 or end members have projecting hooklike extensions 58 thereon adapted for snap-in engagement in slots 60 provided proximate the ends 56 in closed face 52. Arrow 62 (FIG. 6) indicate assembly of one unit with respect to another in an obvious manner. The materials again are preferably of a resilient nature to provide the snap-in feature and the shape and dimensioning is such as to resiliently hold one unit in stacked arrangement or array with an adjacent one. It will be seen that in this form the units are in actuality a top half only form which snaps into a top half of a next lower or adjacent unit and a base or end unit can be formed as an entire unit.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 9 the individual units include a first face or end 66 having a tapered opening 68 and a second face or end 70 with a similar opening, the two faces 68, 70 being interconnected by a base 72. Formed as a continuation of face 70 is, at each end of the unit, a partial end 74 dimensioned to provide an opening at 76 with respect to the face or end 66 and at the opposite end is provided with a hook shaped extension 78 of a nature similar to the hook 58 of FIG. 6 and operable for engagement through and in opening 76 in assembling as indicated by arrow 80 in a snap-in hooking engagement and relationship. This form of'the invention in effect provides a long snap-lip which locks into the unit below.

FIG. 10 discloses a further modified type of interlock for the units 82 which are provided in their ends 84 with openings 86 terminating in inwardly directed lips or edges 88. The lock consists of a generally U-shaped member 90 of resilient material with the edges of opening 92 thereof frictionally engaging in a snap action over the lips or edges 88 as shown in FIG. 11. FIG. 12 shows a further modified form of a snap-in type lock 94 similar to that of FIG. 10 but elongated and can either coact with and in openings of smaller opening size or with a lip extension. As shown a base or end member 96 is adapted for connection to an array of theindividual units.

Manifestly minor changes in details of construction can be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in and limited solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A snap-in rack for cassettes comprising:

A. a plurality of individual cassette storage units connected in mating side-by-side placement to form a rack;

B. snap-in interengaging and locking means mounted on said units;

i. said interengaging means consisting of male and female snap-in elements associated with and coactible between mated units in a stacked array thereof.

2. A rack as claimed in claim 1, said units being open on one edge thereof to permit cassette insertion.

3. A rack as claimed in claim 2, including end panels, and snap-in interengaging and locking means for assembly of said end panels on a stacked unit array.

4. A rack as claimed in claim 2, said units having sidewalls adapted for juxtaposed mating engagement, said male and female snap-in elements being alternately arranged on mating ones respectively of said units for interengagement therebetween.

5. A rack as claimed in claim 4, said female elements being openings in said sidewalls, said male elements being snap-in type buttons extended from said sidewalls and being engageable in said openings.

6. A rack as claimed in claim 1, said units including a sidewall and end walls, said sidewall having a slot therein, said end walls having hooklike extensions thereon, said hooklike extensions being insertable in said slots in mated ones of said units in a snap-in interengagement and locking therewith in a stacked array.

7. A rack as claimed in claim 1, said units including spaced sidewalls and end walls, said end walls having elongate slots formed between an end thereof and a said sidewall, said end walls at the opposite end having hooklike extensions, said hooklike extensions being insertable in and through said slots in a snap-in interengagement and locking therewith and between mated ones of said units in a stacked array.

8. A rack as claimed in claim I, said units including spaced sidewalls and end walls, said end walls having openings therein terminating in inwardly extending lips, said openings constituting said female snap-in elements, said male snap-in elements comprising resilient U-shaped elements having leg portions engageable in and through said end wall openings and including portions engageable with said lips for interengaging and locking mated ones of said units in a stacked array.

i Q i i i 

1. A snap-in rack for cassettes comprising: A. a plurality of individual cassette storage units connected in mating side-by-side placeMent to form a rack; B. snap-in interengaging and locking means mounted on said units; i. said interengaging means consisting of male and female snapin elements associated with and coactible between mated units in a stacked array thereof.
 2. A rack as claimed in claim 1, said units being open on one edge thereof to permit cassette insertion.
 3. A rack as claimed in claim 2, including end panels, and snap-in interengaging and locking means for assembly of said end panels on a stacked unit array.
 4. A rack as claimed in claim 2, said units having sidewalls adapted for juxtaposed mating engagement, said male and female snap-in elements being alternately arranged on mating ones respectively of said units for interengagement therebetween.
 5. A rack as claimed in claim 4, said female elements being openings in said sidewalls, said male elements being snap-in type buttons extended from said sidewalls and being engageable in said openings.
 6. A rack as claimed in claim 1, said units including a sidewall and end walls, said sidewall having a slot therein, said end walls having hooklike extensions thereon, said hooklike extensions being insertable in said slots in mated ones of said units in a snap-in interengagement and locking therewith in a stacked array.
 7. A rack as claimed in claim 1, said units including spaced sidewalls and end walls, said end walls having elongate slots formed between an end thereof and a said sidewall, said end walls at the opposite end having hooklike extensions, said hooklike extensions being insertable in and through said slots in a snap-in interengagement and locking therewith and between mated ones of said units in a stacked array.
 8. A rack as claimed in claim 1, said units including spaced sidewalls and end walls, said end walls having openings therein terminating in inwardly extending lips, said openings constituting said female snap-in elements, said male snap-in elements comprising resilient U-shaped elements having leg portions engageable in and through said end wall openings and including portions engageable with said lips for interengaging and locking mated ones of said units in a stacked array. 